Challenging times, but the waves still roll in

I started a blog two weeks ago as I sat in the Qantas lounge at Sydney airport waiting to fly home to New Zealand to watch IMNZ.

At the time I was vaguely aware of the need to be cautious around others and particularly at the airport with regards to the Coronavirus, today it’s a whole new world, and not a good one.

The past week has seen many major races cancelled around the world and hundreds of thousands of smaller race organisers facing the same decisions and potentially loss of their livelihood, not to mention their passion for their sport.

Who would have thought when Jan and I set out on our journey to IM Canada just six months ago that life as we know it would become so uncertain.

Our intention, in the beginning, was to encourage everyone to grab life by the horns and not only live it to the full, but run like hell with it. Today we face not only a slow down in that run, but something so primal to human beings that many of us will be fearful of where it leaves us both physically and mentally – social isolation and even total lockdown.

Even as race cancellations came trickling in during the week there was a disappointment but I wasn’t devastated, I think it had been a gradual realisation that ‘something’ big was about to happen, and of course, it did.

As a news journalist, I’m often well ahead of the general public in terms of what’s happening out there. I know when press conferences are being held, what press releases have given us the ‘heads-up’ and that was maybe why my disappointment level was lower than many people’s.

So, what to do?

1. For those of you who have a coach keep them on. I appreciate that many people will struggle financially and this might not be possible, but we will come out of the fog one day and we will want to pick up where we left off, with urgency.
2. Support one another in any way possible. Social media has a bit of a bad boy/good boy image but in times of isolation and distancing from our friends and family, the world over it will be a godsend. But, be careful what you say, there is a lot of poor communication out there, sadly not least from some of the world’s ‘leaders’ so think before you publish, “How is what I’m saying or repeating going to make someone feel?” We are ALL going to ride the highs and lows over the coming weeks and months.
3. Keep it simple, keep it moving. There is a tonne of videos out there from reputable organisations promoting self-help physical activity such as the SwimSmooth, Les Mills Fitness Group and others around the world, so use them and again if you can support them financially please do.
4. Your mental health is going to suffer, I honestly don’t see how it can’t so IT will need extra special care. A fellow journalist in New Zealand wrote a brilliant piece about how he was feeling and I couldn’t word it better so take a look here.
5. Laugh!!!! and laugh again! There are some very funny people out there who have already had me crying with laughter and boy does it feel good. Many people may turn to other less savoury ‘so-called’ pacifiers like alcohol, drugs and even food, but the after-effects of too much of any of them isn’t good, whereas a good old wetting yourself laugh will only make your ache a little.
6. Don’t hoard anything! Well, maybe a bit of chocolate and I have to admit I’ve just ordered a month’s worth of coffee online, there are some things I’m just not prepared to be without!!!!!!!!! However, my online purchases are keeping businesses and delivery people in work so again, you’re doing your bit for the economy.
7. Practice, proper social distancing and if necessary isolation!!!!!!!!! Last night I went for a swim at a local beach, admittedly it had been a very warm day here in Sydney but I just wanted to swim, I certainly didn’t want to sit on the beach or stand shoulder to shoulder queuing for fish and chips like hundreds of others were doing. We took a picnic, sat on a bench like a couple of old farts, smiled at dogs and babies and left. Our spirits were lifted on the one hand because we were outside but left feeling somewhat surprised and shocked at how little people seemed to be taking the need to distance themselves from one another.
8. Be kind to one another, it really is very easy! Stop, think about someone other than yourself, offer a helping hand, (at a distance of course) and the reward of nice fuzzies comes very easily. On Thursday my lovely neighbour wanted to sort out her garage in preparation to downsize. Her husband has been in and out of the hospital for almost 12 months, she’s exhausted from trying to maintain a large house and whilst I was supposed to go for a ride, I thought, “bugger it I’ll stay and help her”. Boy did we laugh at the rubbish she found in her garage, so much so that her lovely husband hobbled down the steps, sat on a chair and joined in – absolute GOLD!
9. And if you find yourself stuck at home, do all that STUFF you’ve been meaning to do for ages. There’s a brilliant BBC podcast called Fortunately which features two hilarious journalists Jane Garvey and Fi Glover who just rattle on about all sorts of rubbish. Jane, in particular, recommends therapeutic cleaning of the fluff that accumulates in your cutlery draw, but there are some brilliant common sense conversations that Fi and Jane have with their guests and one-another that WILL guarantee to lift your spirits.

So, who knows what life will throw at us over the next few months. We may be pleasantly surprised at the genius of scientists who suddenly come up with a vaccine and cure for the virus, if not, then we’re prepared.

My swim coaching is postponed indefinitely and not without a few tears from my lovely swimmers, but in true Vera Lynn fashion, we will meet again in the chlorine.

My journalism skills are fortunately still very much in demand.

Given I might have more time on my hands I’ll do my bit to keep spirits afloat, and not just the gin bottles we stocked up on our return from the home country.

Try not to worry! Always laugh! And take care!